GUILDFORD International staged a stirring fightback in the Men’s National League second division at Milton Keynes.

With only four players present from the squad that beat Birmingham a week earlier, the team was joined by Ian Millar, promoted from their Division Three team, and registered Greek Mikalis Kolias on the day. Millar slotted into the outside hitter role left vacant by the injured Simon Williams and Kolias took over from South African Brett Goslett in the off-setter position.

The rag-tag, thrown together nature of the team was all too apparent in the first set and although Guildford managed to tick over they failed to win more than one point in a row eventually going down 25-21. It was no better in the second, the hosts taking it 25-19, with the only attacking threat coming from the quick attacks of Luke van Hengel. A bad defeat looked on the cards for the Surrey side until a string of five kills from the previously slumbering Kolias acted as the catalyst the team needed. And with a rejuvenated Ralph Kerncen proving unstoppable, they grabbed it 25-19.

Now with the momentum Guildford raced away 25-17 in the fourth and closed out the match 25-8 in the decider led by great serving from Kernchen van Hengel, Millar and Kolias.